Transesterification of Ethylene Carbonate with Dimethyl Terephthalate over Various Metal Acetate Cat

The reaction between ethylene carbonate and dimethyl terephthalate was carried out for the simultaneous synthesis of dimethyl carbonate and poly( ethylene terephthalate). This reaction is an excellent chemical process that is environmentally friendly and produces no poisonous substance. The metal acetate catalysts used for this reaction are discussed in detail. Lithium acetate dihydrate was found to be a novel and efficient catalyst for this reaction. Compared with other metal acetates, lithium acetate dihydrate can attain a maximum catalytic activity at a lower concentration.When the reaction was carried out under the following conditions: the reaction temperature from 230 to 250 ℃, molar ratio of ethylene carbonate(EC) to dimethyl terephthalate(DMT) 3: 1, reaction time 3 h, and a catalyst amount of 0. 4% (molar fraction to DMT), the yield of dimethyl carbonate(DMC) was 79. 1%.